Featured Some Singular Readings In The NIV...

Sometimes a particular translation will "hit the nail on the head" and provide a singular translation that correctly conveys the message while deviating from tradition. Every once in a while even the dreaded NIV accomplishes that feat. But not at Proverbs 18:10.

YLT provides a good start: A tower of strength is the name of Jehovah, Into it the righteous runneth, and is set on high.
Next, here is the LEB: A tower of strength is the name of Yahweh; into him the righteous will run and be safe.

So the first observation is the order of the phrases, The name is a strong tower verses a tower of strength is the name. So rather than defining what the name of the Lord is (a tower) the actual message is we can be strengthen as we rely upon the LORD.

So a better translation would be: A tower of strength is the name of the LORD, to Him the righteous one runs and is set safely on high.

An attribute of the LORD is His protection for the righteous one that runs to Him (putting complete faith in His provision of deliverance). Being set on high means to be put where the threat cannot gain access. The NET clarifies this by "being set safely on high.

 

I may not have shown you that the phrase order changes the message but discerning readers can tell the difference from the name being a tower (exclusive implication) and describing one of many attributes, a tower of strength is the name.

Next, does the righteous one run to the tower or to the Lord? And the statement is emphatic, its not may run, but "to Him the righteous one runs. "Like" also found in the translations needs to be in italics if inserted.

Clearly, a better translation of the message is "A tower of strength is the name of the LORD, to Him the righteous one runs and is set safely on high."

 

Romans 10:4 presents an ambiguous message. Here is the NIV translation:

So one idea for "telos - G5056" is culmination or fulfillment The NIV translators have adopted this view.. Most other translator's translate "telos" as end. However a third option is found in the Lexicon, where the idea is to set out for a definite point or goal. The law is a tutor that leads us to Christ.

Now the NASB has:

What is the idea being communicated by the phrase "for righteousness?" Could it be Christ's bestowal of righteousness is the goal of the Law to everyone who believers? How about "The goal of the Law is Christ's bestowal of righteousness to everyone who believers?"

That would indeed be a singular translation, but would it be better than all the rest?

 

Lets consider 1 Corinthians 13:10:
10 but when the perfect comes, the partial will be done away. (NASB)

On Biblehub, about 20 versions have perfect or perfection, whereas 4 have complete, and the NIV is all alone with completeness.

The Greek word is "telelos - G5046" and refers to the end state of development. Thus a full grown tree rather than one still lacking its full growth. Here the idea is the end of the age, when Jesus returns. The three most common choices for translation in the NASB are perfect, complete and mature. Today, in the church age, we have a partial understanding, but when Christ returns and we are gloried physically, we will be fully developed, complete, and the things needed in our incomplete status will fade away. Since we will know fully, our reliance on faith and hope will diminish, and love will become our mainstay.

I like "Perfect" as the better translation choice because Jesus is lacking in nothing as our Savior.

 

Jesus was made perfect, but was He made "completeness." The idea is Christ's suffering and death completed or fulfilled the requirement to be our sin offering. So to connect Hebrews 2:10 with 1 Cor. 13:10 using the same word (perfect) conveys the intended message better. Sadly the NIV uses perfect in one verse and completeness in the other.

 

"A tower of strength is the name of the LORD, to Him the righteous one runs and is set safely on high."
"The goal of the Law is Christ's bestowal of righteousness to everyone who believers."
"but when the perfect comes, the partial will be done away."

The Greek word translated perfect (or make perfect) at Hebrews 2:10 is not the exact same word as the one translated perfect in 1 Corinthians 13:10. In Corinthians Telelos - G5046 refers to the end state of development, but in Hebrews 2:10 "Teleloo - G5048" refers to the action or an action that brought the person or thing to its end state of development, thus "made perfect" is the literal meaning.

 

Proverbs 18:10

KJV Proverbs 18:10 The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.

The KJV IMO does a wonderful job with the Hebrew here.
into it rather than "to it" is best.

Literally - A tower strong is (the) name of the LORD, into it runs the righteous (one) and is inaccessible.

KJV modified
Proverbs 18:10 The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runs into it, and is safe.

LORD is the Hebrew tetragrammaton YHWH

Exodus 3:14 And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.

John 8:58 Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.

JESUS is the name of the LORD.

HankD

 

NOT, one must run into (inside) the tower to be inaccessible to the roaring lion.
If you just run "to it" you will get eaten by the lion.

How about:

Proverbs 18:10 The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runs inside and is safe.

HankD

 

When you use the term "dreaded", do you mean that the Niv is not a valid translation?

 

It may be "sloppy English" but "The righteous" is singular in the Hebrew. tzaddiq not tzaddikim.

OK a word could be added in italics for clarification :



Proverbs 18:10 The name of the LORD is a strong tower the righteous one runs inside and is safe.

HankD

 

Did you see any mention of the topic? No
Did you see smears based on falsehood? Yes
Folks, google "literal meaning" and see if Mr. Rippon's absurd falsehood is laughable.
And folks pay no attention to Mr. Rippon's characterizations of other peoples views, they are fictionalizations.